Mexico elected to head the Council of the International Seabed Authority

Mexico elected to head the Council of the International Seabed Authority

• Mexico reaffirms its role as an important actor in the International Law of the Sea
• A Mexican jurist is also elected to head the ISA Legal and Technical Commission
• This is the first time that Mexicans will head these two important ISA organs

On March 16, Mexico was elected by acclamation to head the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for 2023.

The ISA was established by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to organize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the Area -seabed and subsoil-, that is, the seabed outside of national jurisdictions, which is the common heritage of humankind. Since its creation, Mexico has been a key actor in the UNCLOS, considered the "Constitution of the Oceans."

At the 28th session of the ISA Assembly, held in Kingston, Jamaica, Juan José González, permanent representative of Mexico, was elected to head the Council. He reiterated Mexico's commitment to promoting the construction of a solid and operational legal framework that gives certainty to the activities carried out in the Area, while ensuring the effective protection and preservation of the marine environment, and the sustainable use of resources for the benefit of humankind as a whole.

In addition, Erasmo Lara, Mexican jurist and diplomat, was elected on March 9 to chair the ISA Legal and Technical Commission (LTC). The LTC is an organ of the Council of ISA. Among other responsibilities, it formulates and keeps under review the rules, regulations and procedures in relation to activities in the Area.

At a time when the framework to regulate future exploitation of the seabed is being discussed, the election of two Mexicans to these organs for the first time reaffirms Mexico's commitment to multilateralism as the best way to advance the goals of peace, security and sustainable human development for the benefit of humankind.